Rajeev Venkat (@RVenkat_India), venkat.rajeev@gmail.com
Author of the Book – Cast Your Caste Away: The Clarion Call of Sanatana Dharma
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There are some aspects and terminologies given out in the Hindu Scriptures which are truly unique and cannot be found in any other Religion or Philosophy. Guru is also one such dimension which cannot be easily equated with in any other line of thought. One may be prompted to equate Guru to Teacher or Prophet but in the scheme of the Sanatana philosophy, Guru is as unique and enigmatic term as Dharma itself is.
Who is a Guru?
One of the simplest definitions of the term, Guru is ‘the one who dispels ignorance’. ‘Gu’ standing for ignorance and ‘ru’ meaning the one who dispels. So, Guru is the one who dispels ignorance. Ignorance, of what? The primordial Ignorance of the true nature of our Self.
There could be many aspects of Guru like, one who shows the path is a Guru. Someone who teaches some art or aspect of knowledge is a Guru. Someone who advises on some matter of difficulty is a Guru. A Guru can be all of them and yet, much more than all of that put together. In Vedanta, a Guru is one who is Shrotriya (well versed in the Shruti or the Scriptures) as well as, Brahma-nishtha (steadfast in Brahman, the Absolute Reality).
Shrotriya: This profound Knowledge of the Self is not some kind of cognitive experience which can be imparted to the student as a favour. In order to instruct the student sufficiently, the Guru should himself be well versed in the Vedantic knowledge. Without this Knowledge even the Self-realised Teacher would struggle to transmit to the ordinary student. Yes, many of the exalted Gurus can communicate with the Higher as we see in case of many Mouni Babas. But for the sake of the student, the Guru should be a Shrotriya in his own right.
Brahma-nishtha: The goal of Vedanta is that Knowledge of the Self has to ultimately give rise to the experience of the Self. And, for the student to experience this even the highest lectures from the most erudite scholars could be insufficient to convey this ‘subtlest of the subtle’ knowledge. The student has to fall back on the experience of the Teacher which can provide wings to the efforts and sadhana of the student.
Hence, only one who is well versed in the Vedantic knowledge and with the direct Experience of the Self is qualified to be a Teacher for Brahma-vidya, the Highest Knowledge.
Is the Guru necessary?
Once a sceptic, young girl possibly with an air of arrogance and in a slightly diffident tone asked a renowned Teacher of Vedanta, “Swami, whatever you teach is all available in the Book then why do I need a Guru?” Without batting an eyelid, the Great Swami replied, “Why don’t you ask this question to the Book?” (Anecdote taken from ‘Say Cheese - Witty Wisdom’) and the Teacher was the modern-day Guru of Advaita Vedanta, H.H. Swami Chinmayananda.
So now that we agree that Guru is indispensable let us see, why?
Firstly, Self-Knowledge is revealed and not something to be acquired or obtained. This Knowledge is not an object which can be perceived by the senses, nor an emotion for the Mind to feel and neither, an idea for the Intellect to ponder about. This Knowledge of the Self can only be revealed to us by someone who abides in it – The Guru.
Secondly, the path of Self-Knowledge can be very arduous to tread. It is riddled with self-doubts, confusions and be pretty lonely too. This Knowledge transcends all that has been ever experienced and known by the Student hence, can also raise false experiences and expectations. The Guru who is ever abiding in that State is not just a motivation for the student but also proof of that Knowledge.
Thirdly, the language of ALL Scriptures is very esoteric and not easy to be grasped with mere self-effort. Infact, if we look at the world around us we can surely conclude that majority of the seemingly sincere believers have picked up the wrong interpretation which surely the Scriptures did not actually mean nor could they have ever meant so. What else can explain all the strife and killings we witness around us, in the name of God. It is only due to lack of proper interpretation of the Message that we see today ‘My’ God pitted against ‘Your’ God all over the world. Mere knowledge of the language is not sufficient to study ANY Scripture. Many a times, the student comes across some passages in the Scriptures which appear self-contradicting and can end up leaving the student more confused than he was to begin with.
Hence, in order to rightly interpret the Highest Knowledge of the Self, the Guru is simply Indispensable.
What is Guru Purnima?
In the tradition of Sanatana Dharma, Guru Purnima is the auspicious full moon day in the month of Asadha which is considered as the birthday of the Greatest of the Guru of all-time, Bhagwan Veda Vyasa. On this day, Hindus all over the world offer their prayers to the Guru-Parampara (Tradition or Lineage of Guru), the fountain-head of which is represented by Bhagwan Veda Vyasa.
The Visionary Guru, who ‘divided’ the Vedas into 4 parts and simplified it for the future generations to follow. Born as Sri Krishna Dwaipayana, this greatest spiritual and scriptural giant not only organised the Vedas but also composed the Brahma Sutras, dealing with attaining the Knowledge of Brahman (not to be confused with Brahma or Brahmana or Brahmin) all the Puranas included the much exalted and worshipped Srimad Bhagwad Purana.
Sri Shankaracharya, another exalted Guru, who appeared much later in the Spiritual horizon wrote commentaries on the works of Bhagwan Veda Vyasa viz. Upanishads and Brahma Sutras to further make it relevant and easy to comprehend to his contemporary generation and for the Seekers of the future. Sri Shankara also composed many divine Hymns during his lifetime as his offering to various Gods and Deities. One of the verses of his famous Hym titled, Guru Stotram (Hym to The Guru) which was a tribute to his Guru (Sri Govinda Bhagavadpada) as well as the entire Guru-Parampara he says,
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकया ।
चक्षुरुनमिलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Meaning:
My Salutations to that reverential Teacher, who opened my eyes, by applying the divine collyrium of Self-Knowledge in my eyes, which had got blinded by the darkness of Ignorance.
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